Field Hockey Canada > Canada aiming for consistent effort in final pool match at Junior World Cup

Canada aiming for consistent effort in final pool match at Junior World Cup

Canada faces England on December 13 at 10:00am local time in India (8:30pm Pacific/11:30pm Eastern on December 12). There will be no live stream for this match. (Photo by Yan Huckendubler)

December 12, 2016 | Shaheed Devji | fieldhockey.ca

After coming up short in both of its first two matches at the Junior World Cup, Canada’s Under-21 Men’s National Team has one game remaining in the pool stage of the competition.

And while the results against India (4-0 loss) and South Africa (3-1 loss) were disappointing for Canada’s junior men, the team is still hopeful headed into its last match against England on Tuesday (10:00 local time; 8:30pm Pacific/11:30pm Easter Monday December 12 in Canada).

“We are focusing on process,” says Head Coach Inderpal Sehmbi. “To get a result we need to play our best. We want to see what these guys can do when they play our best for 70 minutes.”

Currently in fourth spot in Pool D, Canada still has an outside chance of advancing to the quarterfinal round by finishing in the top two.

With each of the teams ahead of them sitting on 3 points, the Canadians will need a substantial victory over England to leap from the English and South Africans and slot into second spot.

“As the youngest team in the tournament it’s been a big learning curve,” says forward Amrit Sidhu, who is playing in his first Junior World Cup. “The pace of the games and the quality of teams is something we don’t see very often in Canada.”

The adjustment has likely contributed to what Sehmbi calls a lack of consistency in the first two game’s.

Canada’s men, however, have by no means looked out of place in India.

“Regardless of the start to the World Cup, the group isn’t spending anytime sulking,” Sidhu adds. “The group is refocused for what is an enticing game vs England.”

“I feel we are knocking at the door and if we just get some of the details right anything is possible.”

Regardless of the result, the Canadians will have at least two more matches following the game against England, meaning the tournament is far from over.

“We haven’t played our best game yet as a group,” Sehmbi says. “That is what we are focusing on for the next three games.”

Canada faces England on Tuesday, December 13 at 10:00am in India (8:30pm Pacific/11:30pm Eastern on December 12 in Canada. Due to the schedule change brought about by heavy fog, there will be no live stream for this match.

Click here for Canada’s full schedule and results. Follow Field Hockey Canada on TwitterFacebook, and Instagram for the latest on the Canadian junior men in India.